Velocipede



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. B. JEFPERY.

VELOGIPEDB.

No. 275.917. Patented Apr.17,1883.

WW yyy 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. BI JBPFBRY.

(No Model.)

VELOCIPEDE.

Patented Apr. 17,1883.

Z %tas 66 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS B. JEFFERY, OF CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,917, clated Aprl 17, 1883.

Application filed January 22, 1883. (No modcll To all whom tt may concem:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B.JEFFERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' Illinois, have invented a new and useful Velocipede, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes; and the objects of my improvement are to provide a secure fastening for the center screw in the fork of the steering-wheel, means for fastening the backbone in the rear fork, means for adjusting the rear wheel in the rear fork and the front wheel in the front fork, also an improved spring to the seat. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a back -view of the back fork, with section of part of the backbone; Fig. 2, a view ofthe steering-wheel, fork, and head; Fig.3, asection of the front-wheel hearing, and Fig. 4 a side view of the same.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the several Views.

The fork A, having head B, is pivoted to the reach C by a point or pivot under the neck, and by the usual center above, turning under the screw (l, to which it is fitted, and by which it may be adjusted. As this screw is liable to become loose by the vibrations incidental to the use ot' the velocipede, I provide a setscrew, e, placed in front of the same to be out ot' the way ofthe rider s dress, the center screw being protected from injury by a metal disk placed between the point of the screw e and the side of the screw d. The backbone or reach is made of tubing and tapered in the usual way; but at the lower end ot' the tapered portion is formed a shoulder, F, below which a smaller tapered portion continues, and is made to fit a oorresponding cavity in the upper end of the back iork, G, the shoulder on the backbone being made of -such size as to be about uniforin with the outside ot' the fork. These parts are held together by being driven into each other, and their displacement prevented by a screw or rivet. A step, H, is usually secured to the tube above the 'ork. This manner of fastening being unreliable, form the step with a tube pernanently attached by being cast or forged in one piece, the tube forming the upper end of the back fork. The step has a stem or bracket extending out from the tube and continued up above the same where the step is formed, thus reaching above and partly concealing the joint. This mode of constructing the step makes the accidental loosenin g of it impossible. The rear wheel is 'formed with the usual cone- 4 shaped cavities to fit a corresponding axle; but instead of providing an aXle I form on the 63 inside of the fork ends, and of the same piece of metal, cone-shaped projections l, on which the wheel can turn, and I prevent the forks from spreading by a bolt placed through the. fork ends and the hub, but not necessarily fit- 6 ting either; The use of the bolt' pernits of the necessary 'adjustment of the fork to the wheel, when required. The front wheel is provided with the ordinary shat't, L, and case M, containing loose steel balls forming the bearings. The outer form ot' the case is spherical, having two sections removed, leaving two parallel sides pierced for the axle. The case is contained in a yoke or cavity shaped to conform to the case and formed at the lower end of the fork. This mode ot connecting the ballcases prevents the balls being bound by atwisting strain or bend occuring in the forks by the use of the machine on rough roads or through anaccident. The balls contained in the case partly rest in the groove formed on the inner edge of the crank-boss, thus dispens ing with an intermediate sleeve usually employed for the purpose, and allowing the opposite cranks to be placed nearer to eachother than they could be if the intermediate ring or sleeve were used, and partl y on a similar groove on a shoulder formed on the shaft or aXle, all being contained in the case. Means for adjusting the hearing are provided by the use ot' 0 the screw O, entering the end of theaxle, which draws the crank P toward the balls, and the crank is kept from turning by the key Q, passing through the crank and at the side ot' the axle bearin g on a tlattened portion formed 5 for that purpose. The seat E, Fig. 2, is joined to the neck of the backbone by ears which embrace it and held by a pin, on which it can turn vertically within certain obvious limits below and at the rear ot' the seat, and sup- IOO ported by the perch is a wire spiral spring, S, formin g an elastic support 'for the seat.

I an aware that prior to my invention acentering-pin has been formed upon an internallyscrew-threaded cap working on a externallyfrom soon working loose', and, besides, limitin g the adjustment of the cap, which must be done as the centering-pin becomes worn. Furthernore, a greater objection exists by reason of the unavoidable shifting of the set-screw from the front to the side or rear ot' the machinein the way of the clothing or person of the rider as the centeriug-pin and neck become worn and the cap is turned to take up the wear. By my Construction the adj ustment of the centering-pin is substantially and practically unlimited, and the set-screw always remains at a point in front of and out of the way of the rider, and hence all of the objections above set forth are avoided.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a velocipede, the open rectangular head provided with vertical and lateral screwthreaded perforations, in combination with the vertical centering-screw and lateral setscrew, said set-screw adapted to be impinged against and lock the centering-screw, substantially as described.

5. The casting of rcar fork having socketPt and step H on its upper end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The hearing-cases M, of spherical shape,

embracing the balls and shaft L, and con-' tained in spherical cavities in the fork ends, snbstantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

7. The crank P of a velocipede having the inner edge of its boss formed to fit a series ot' balls that roll thereon, in combination with the case covering the crank-boss and balls. substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

i THOS. B. JEFFERY.

Wtnesses: i

GEO. B. DURKEE, GEO. W. DAvs. 

